17. — [Of fragments,,. twelve baskets. 1 Let our Lord's disapproba- tion of waste be noted. If " the great Housekeeper of the world," Burkitt says, "is so particular about saving fragments, what account will they give in the day of judgment, who think nothing of wasting time, money, health, and strength, in the service of sin and the world ? "
The remark of Brentius on this miracle is worth notice. He says, " the whole sixth chapter of St. John is the true explanation of the use of this miracle. Christ is the bread of life, and he who eats of Him shall live for ever."
[Baskets^ The Greek word so translated is only used in the New Testament, in the account given by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, of this miracle. It means a wicker basket such as the Jews were remarkable for carrying with them, as remarked even by the Roman poet, Juvenal. It is worthy of notice, that in the second miracle of feeding the multitude, recorded by Matthew and Mark only, where seven "baskets of fragments were taken up, the word translated " basket," is entirely different from that used here. It signifies, in that miracle, a large wicker basket, and is said by Hesychius to be a vessel for com. At any rate, it means a very large basket, for it is the same word used where it is said that St. Paul was " let down in a basket from the wall." (Acts ix. 25.)